Dishwasher



Sept. 22, 1953 L. E. VAN HISE DISHWASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9,1948 INVENTOR E. VANHISE i ATTORNEY L. E. vAN HISE Sept. 22, 1953DISHWASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed nee. 9, 1943 .vfffffllfflQFllf/lt I!!!ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22,1953

UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE DISHWASHER V Lester E. Van Hise, LosAngeles, Calif. Application December 9, 1948, Serial No. 64,295

16 Claims. (01. 134-188) The present invention relates to dishwashers ingeneral and particularly to a dishwasher 1ncorporating improvedpropellin and directing means for the cleansing water. More specificallythe invention comprises a dishwasher in which cleansing water'is thrownwith force against the dishes to be washed by motor-drivenmeansincluding directing means moved by water friction.

Following use and before reuse dishes must be cleansed for sanitaryreasons and this operation has for generations been a feminine householdduty. In recent years commercial dishwashers have made their appearancein forms designed for household use. They have, in large part, however,been inefficient and unsatisfactory for feminine control. They also havebeen characterized usually by certain fundamental mechanical weaknessewhich have prevented universal acceptance.

The dishwasher constructed in accordance with the present invention ischaracterized primarily by its simplicity and by the completeelimination of all seals subject to wear between its interior andexterior. In one preferred embodiment the driving electrical motor iscarried by and removable with the casing cover, and in another preferredembodiment is recessed in the bottom of the casing itself. In both formsa rotatable centrifugal impeller forces the water under pressure throughan enclosing nozzle which directs it against the dishes to be cleaned,the nozzle movement being effected by a frictional force imparted by thewater itself.

With an appreciation of the shortcomings of the prior art domesticdishwashers it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand simplified dishwasher in which no power is transmitted through afluid seal subject to wear.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dishwasher inwhich the cleansing water is placed under pressure by a centrifugalimpeller driven by an electrical motor and in which a water-directingnozzle is propelled by water friction.

Still another object of the invention 15 to provide a dishwasher unit inwhich a water-propel ling unit positioned below the water level isdriven by a motor carried by the removable cover of the casing. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improveddishwasher in which the waterpropelling unit is driven by an electricalmotor within a housing recessed within the limits of the wash water andconnected to the water-propelling means by power-transmitting meansincorporating no water seals.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading thefollowing specification and claims and upon considering in connectiontherewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention are illustrated Figure 1 is aside elevational view ofa dishwasher embodying the first preferred embodiment of the inventionwith certain parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a partial top view of the construction of Figure 1 withcertain parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a transverse section upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showingthe separable coupling between the driving motor and thepower-transmitting shaft to the centrifugal impeller;

Figure 4 is a view looking downwardly in the direction of the arrowsupon the line 44 of Figure 1 and shows the rotatable Water-directingnozzle;

Figure 5 is a'section upon the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and shows thespeed-controlling fins at the side of the rotatable nozzle;

Figure 6 is a view looking downwardly through the nozzle inlet in thedirection of the arrows upon the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a partial vertical section upon the line 1 of Figure 1through the valve unit; and

Figure 8 is a partial'vertical section through a second preferredembodiment of the invention.

Referring again to the drawings, and to Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, inparticular, the first preferred embodiment of the-invention isillustrated and 1S seen to include a body, indicated generally by thereference character II, which comprises a cylindrical open-topped casingI2 and a removable cover 13. A suitable dish-supporting rack, indicatedby the reference character [4, is positioned within the casing I2. Thewater-propelling unit is generally indicated by thereference characterl5: and is driven by a power source carried by cover 13 and comprisingan electrical motor unit indicated generally by the reference characterH. The flow of Water into and from the body II is controlled by amanually. operable valve unit located at the side of easing I2 andindicated generally by-the reference'character 20. The physical andfunctional relationships existing between theseparts will now bedescribed in detail.

, lteferring first to the body I I, that unit com- PIISBS, as stated, acasing l2- and a removable cover I3. Casing I2 is illustrated as beingsubstantially rectangular in section although this shapeis-not of theessence.-- It is important,

however, that the casing be made of a noncorrosive material such asstainless steel or other suitable metal, and that it have sufficientstrength and rigidity to support the parts without undue vibration andwith no deformation. Aiding in strengthening the casing and alsoproviding a suitable seat for the removable cover I3 is a peripheralshelf 2I surrounding its upper edge.

The edge of cover I3 is shaped as to conform to casing shelf 2I and toprovide a seal to prevent water leakage and it is embedded in a rubberbead 22. As is illustrated most clearly in Figures 1 and 2 a wide bandor strap 24 extends across the top of cover I3 and downwardly at itssides. Band 24 performs not only the function of enhancing theappearance of the cover but also, through being recessed at 26 near itslower extremities, provides suitable handles by which the cover may belifted.

Adherent foreign material is removed from dishes and table ware in thedishwasher constructed in accordance with the present invention by waterdirected vthereagainst with force provided by the water-propelling unitI5 supported on the bottom wall 33 of casing I2. Unit I5 comprises acentrifugal impeller 28 and an enclosing rotatable nozzle housing 29.The impeller, itshousing, the shaft 3! and the drive shaft 3'! form aremovable unit and will now be described.

,Shaft 3I of water-propelling unit I5 is itself rotatably supported in avertical bushing 32 fixedly mounted .upon the casing bottom wall 33. Aball 34 at the lower end of shaft 3-I acts as a thrust bearing to carrythe vertical load. The impeller is itself formed with a central hubportion 36 rotatably enclosing shaft 3|. A vertical shaft ,3! fixedlyseats in the upper end of hub 36 forming a fixed closure for the openupper end thereof. A second ball 39 is positioned in hub 3.5 between theends of shafts 3| and 31 and supports the impeller through its hub. Aport 39 connects the interior of hub 36 with the exterior to enablewater to enter and to serve as a bearing lubricant. A port 4| in 'lowerbushing 32 performs a similar function.

While impeller 28 is rotatable independently of its supporting shaft 31the enclosing nozzle 29 is fixedly connected to shaft 3| for conjointrotation therewith. As is illustrated most clearly in Figures 1, 4 and5, nozzle 29 is in fact a hollow, exteriorly smooth-surfaced casingcircular in any horizontal transverse section. It includes a bottom wall46 from which extends vertically a circular wall 4'! above which aninwardly extending frusto conical wall 48 merges into a horizontal topwall 49. Top wall 49 carries centrally a sleeve bushing 51 rotatablyenclosing shaft .3} while bottom wall 46 is provided centrally with anaperture defined by downwardly extending circular flange 52 forming aninlet port. A spider 55 positioned in the port connects the bottom wall46 to a cup-like sleeve 56 fixed to supporting shaft 3|. As stated,shaft 3I is held upright by its supporting bushing 32 and ball 34functioning as a thrust bearing and nozzle 29 is supported thereby inupright position, as illus trated in Figure l. Shaft 3'! is held inalignment with shaft 3| by impeller hub 36 and bushing 5| carried bynozzle 29. Impeller 28 is rotatable with the power-transmitting shaft31, being fixedly connected thereto, but nozzle 29 is rotatableindependently with supporting shaft 3I under frictional force impartedby the swirling water therein. 'Laterally extending fins or wings 58extend from the sides of nozzle 29 to act as braking means to limit thespeed of its rotation.

Impeller 28 draws water upwardly into the nozzle 29 through its inlet 52to fill the surrounding nozzle and forces it upwardly and outwardlythrough a side slot 6I in face 48 and through a slot 62 in top wall 49.But a single aperture 6| is illustrated but it is to be understood thatthe number can be increased so long as the rate at which the water ispermitted to escape is not so great as to reduce its striking form belowan optimum. The same is true of slot .62. Nozzle 29 rotates in operationso that apertures GI and 62 face in all directions within 'body :II todirect streams of water against dishes in all parts thereof.

Rotational force is delivered to water-propelling .un'it I15 through thevertical shaft 31 from the motor unit I! carried by cover I3. The latteris formed centrally with a downwardly recessed portion 64 which supportsa motor 65 of suitable constant speed type. The motor shaft 66 extendsdownwardly through portion .64 and carries one part 61 of a connector.The part includes a downwardly and outwardly flared skirt 68 andradially extending teeth 69. The upper end .of shaft 31 carries acooperative connector member II the upper end of which is formed withteeth 12 in engagement with the teeth 69 of member Bl. Connectorelements 6,! and 'II are separable upon the cover I3 being liftedupwardly, and .in the positioning of the cover the skirt 68 functions tocenter the two elements by its contact with the peripheral edge ofmember II.

Driving motor 65 is positioned within a motor housing I6 resting at itslower edge upon the top surface of cover I3 and in appearance forming acontinuation thereof. Openings 1! in the top .of casing I6 provide inletopenings for cooling air draw-n along the motor by the cooling air fanI8 mounted upon the upper end of its shaft 66. A cylindrical bafiieplate I9 encircles the motor in spaced relationship to direct the air tothe lower end thereof after which it travels outwardly and upwardly, inthe path indicated by the arrows, and through the exhaust openings 8I inthe side of easing I6. Motor 65 is controlled by suitable electricalswitch means and is adapted to be energized by the usual house current.

The wash water enters body II through the valve unit 2e positionedoutside casing I2 and extending above the lower plane thereof. As isillustrated most clearly in Figures 1 and [the unit comprises anelongated inlet chamber 8| lying adjacent the exterior of the casing andprovided centrally with an upwardly extending island 82 formed with apair of vertically spaced passages or openings 83 and 84 in alignmentwith corresponding openings .86 and 6'1, respectively, in the casingwall. Aligned openings or passages 83 and 86 are sealed from theinterior of chamber 6|, the former being provided at its outer end witha window 8 3 through which the operator may observe the level of thewater which, in operation, should be substantially at the heightindicated in the drawing, that is, midway of the height of the windowand of the frusto conical side wall 48 of the nozzle 29. Passage 84,however, is connected interiorly to the .chamber 8| by Side ports 91 and92 and seats a manually positioned valve 93 formed with an end openingin the casing I2 and with lateral ports 94. The latter are so positionedand arranged as to be in alignment with ports 9-I and 92. in onelongitudinal p'osition'o'f the valve to connect the interior of thevalve to chamber 8!. In a second and longitudinally spaced position thevalve closes ports 9I and 92 to seal theinterior oi casing I2 from thechamber BI and connect it to the exterior through openings 94. Valve 93is retained in its inner position by a retaining pin 95 extendedradially from its surface adjacent the inner surface of the side wall ofcasing I2. With the valve rotated to one angular position pin 95 is inalignment with a groove or slot 90 extended horizontally through thecasing wall and through the island 82 of chamber 8!. Valve 93 can thenbe pulled horizontally by grasping its enlarged end until its ports 94open exteriorly of the chamber.

At its upper end inlet chamber 8I of valve unit 20 carries a nipple 96seating the end of a flexible hose 9! through which water from a hydrantenters the unit. Below the nipple and above both passages 83 and 84 inthe chamber a plurality of small apertures 98 or leak ports are providedthrough which water may escape in the event the level within the unitbecomes too high and to make impossible, even in the presence of avacuum in the hose 91, the reverse flow of water into the water system.

In operation dishes, knives, forks, etc. are first positioned in rack I4in casing I2, the top I3 being removed. When all of the dishes, etc. tobe washed are positioned, preferably all around the water-propellingunit I5, cover I3 is replaced, the operator preferably holding it by thehandle recesses 26, the resilient bead 22 seating within the casingshelf 2I In the downward movement of the cover the frusto conical skirt68 telescopes the upper end of shaft 31, its contact with the edge ofmember II guiding the entire cover to its central seating position inwhich the teeth 12 of member II engage and mesh with corresponding teeth69 on the member 61.

The unit is then filled with water from flexible hose 9'! attached to ahydrant faucet. The water flows downwardly through the chamber BI andpasses through ports 9I and 92 and valve ports 94 into the interior ofvalve 93 from the inner end of which it flows into casing I2, the levelbeing permitted to rise until substantially at the height illustrated inFigure 1.

The operator then closes the electrical circuit of which motor 65 formsa part and the shaft 66 of the latter rotates driving thepower-transmitting shaft 31 and with it the impeller 28 affixed trifugalimpeller 28 throws water radially outwardly and draws it upwardly intonozzle 29 through inlet 52. The nozzles interior is filled with waterunder pressure which is expelled in streams through the laterally facingport 9| and upwardly and outwardly through the port 62. Impeller 28rotates at high speed, as stated, and the body of water within nozzle 29travels a circular path but, of course, at a lesser speed. The frictionof this body of water acting upon the interior of the nozzle drags thelatter so that it rotates facing the ports BI and '2 in all directions.The speed of rotation of the nozzle is controlled by the laterallyextending wings 58 which move through the main body of water in casingI2 providing a braking action.

Y Water which is directed outwardly with force by nozzle 29 strikes thedishes arranged in rack I4 to dislodge and wash-away adhering foreignmaterial which is carried to the bottom of the to its lower end. Highspeed rotation of cening of the dishes Valve 93 is rotated manually at 7its enlarged outer end until its retaining pin 95 is in alignment withits slot at which time the valve is pulled outwardly until the valveports 94 are beyond the chamber 8| at which time the water Within thecasing drains into a sink or other underlying receiver.

To rinse the dishes after the first washingoperation valve 93 isreturned to its original position illustrated in Figure 1 and the unitis refilled with a supply of fresh water. Thereafter the unit isoperated for a limited time period during which the dishes arethoroughly rinsed.

Referring now particularly to Figure 8, a construction constructed inaccordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated and which is to be understood to be identical to that firstdescribed except in details referred to. The embodiment of Figures 1 to'7, inclusive, is primarily a small portable unit adapted for householduse, whereas the construction of Figure 8 is adapted for largerinstallations, installations in which the ready movability of the partsis not so essential and in which the weight of the driving motor wouldbe objectionable if the motor formed a part of the cover and had to beremoved each time a cleaning operation was to be performed. According tothis preferred form of the invention the driving motor unit is indicatedgenerally by the reference character WI and the motor itself by thecharacter Hi8. The motor is positioned within an up- Wardly extendinghousing I02 forming a part of the bottom wall of the casing II2corresponding to casing I2 of the first embodiment. The removable coverof this unit can be understood to be the-same as cover I3 of the firstembodiment, omitting, of course, the driving motor unit construction,and the valve means 20 can be considered to be the same.

The motor housing I02 is, as stated, formed integrally with the bottomwall of the casing I I2 and comprises a cylindrical side wall and afrusto conical top wall I03. The latter seats a vertical sleeve I04threaded exterio-rly at its lower endto seat a nut I06 threaded thereonwhich serves to draw its enlarged head up into sealed relationship withwall I03. The upper end of sleeve I04 ends above the normal water levelwith the machine inoperative to protect the driving motor I08 which issupported in the housing by suitable bracket means I09. The motor'shaftIII extends upwardly through sleeve I04 and carries immediately abovethe upper end thereof a collar I05 aflixed to the hub I I3 ofcentrifugal impeller II4 corresponding to impeller 28 of the firstembodiment. Impeller H4 is surrounded by a nozzle II6 substantialyidentical to nozzle 29 of the first embodiment in all details includinga bottom inlet defined by a flange Ill, and side and top apertures orjets II 8 and H9. Its top wall I2 I however, is provided centrally witha bushing I22 closed at its top and seating a thrust ballbearing I23resting upon the upper end of shaft III. Cooling air for the motor I08is again circulated by a fan, indicated by the reference character I25,in this instance carried at the lower end of the shaft. The fan upon therotation of the motor shaft III forces air along the casing of motor I08and between it and an enclosing baille plate I21. Upon reaching theupper end acsaera of the plate 121 the cooling air is directeddownwardly between the plate and the housing N32 to make its escape.

The operation of this, the second preferred embodiment of the invention,is similar to that first described.

While the particular apparatus herein shown and described in detail isfully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantageshereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the details of constructionor-design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for washing dishes and the like, a containercomprising a casing having an open top, a removable cover seated thereonin sealed relationship, a rotary water impeller unit in said casingmounted upon the bottom wall thereof, said impeller unit including arotary impeller and a freely rotatable enclosing nozzle spaced from saidrotary impeller and having an inlet below the normal water line and anoutlet above said line, a power-transmitting shaft fixed to saidimpeller and extended toward said cover, a driving motor for said shaftcarried by said cover, and a separable connection between the shaft ofsaid motor and said power transmitting shaft whereby upon the rotationof said motor shaft said impeller is rotated and said nozzle is alsorotated by the drag of the water current set up by said impeller.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 characterized in that said nozzleforms a casing around said rotary impeller which is positioned below thenormal water line, and in that said nozzle is provided with an inletopening below said impeller and with an outlet opening thereabove andabove said normal water line.

3. The construction recited in claim 2 characterized in that said nozzleis provided upon its exterior surface below said water line with lateralextending fins to retard its speed of rotation under the rotationalforce imparted to it by the current'of water actuated by said impeller.

'4. In an apparatus for washing dishes and the like, a containercomprising a main casing and a removable cover seated thereon in sealedrelationship, a water impeller unit positioned in said casing andsupported'upon the bottom wall thereof and including a rotatablecentrifugal impeller and a freely rotatable enclosing nozzle, a firstvertical shaft rotatably supported by the bottom of said casing to whichshaft said nozzle is fixedly connected, a second vertical shaft extendedupwardly from said centrifugal impeller and with it supported for freerotation upon said first vertical shaft, and "means to rotate saidcentrifugal impeller comprising an electric motor carried by said coverand connected to the upper end of said second shaft whereby-saidcentrifugal impeller is directly driven by said motor and said nozzle isrotated by the frictional drag of thewater current set up therein bysaid impeller.

5. The construction recited in claim '4 characterized-in that said firstvertical shaft is supported relative to the bottom of said casing "bymeans including-a thrustbearing and in that-said centrifugal impellerand said second vertical shaft are supported upon said firstvertical-shaft by means including a thrust bearing.

6. The construction recited 'by 'claim 4 characterized in that avertical axis motor is carried 8 by said cover the shaft of which is indirect alignment with said second vertical shaft, and in that aseparable connector connects the shaft of said motor to said secondvertical shaft and includes guide means by which said shafts :are guidedinto alignment in the lowering of :said cover onto said casing.

'7. The construction recited .in claim 6 characterized'in that saidguide means includean inverted frusto conical flange on one of saidconnector elements which is adapted to function as a funnel to guidesaid connectors into engaging relationship.

8. In an apparatus for washing dishes and thelike, a container includingan inverted housing, a sleeve sealed to a top Wall of said housing andextending vertically thereabove and above the normal water line, adriving motor positioned in said housing with its shaft extendedupwardly through said sleeve, a centrifugal water impeller fixed to saidshaft above said sleeve and extended therearound, and a nozzlecomprising .-a casing enclosing said centrifugal impeller mounted on theupper end of said motor shaft for free rotation relative thereto andformed with an inlet opening immediately below said impeller and with anoutlet opening thereabove and above the normal water line in saidcontainer.

9. The construction recited in claim =8 char-' acterized in that saidnozzle is formed with laterally and with upwardly facing :outlet openings and with a center bushing which rotatably encloses the upper end ofsaid motor shaft .and is supported thereon by a thrust ballbearing.

10. A fluid pump unit comprising a centrifugal impeller rotatable aboutan axis, a'freely rotatable casing forming a nozzle enclosing saidimpeller and formed with an inlet on one side of said impeller and withan upwardly and outwardly facing outlet opening directly to the ambientupon the opposite side thereof for the purpose of directing fluidupwardly and outwardly therefrom, said casing being rotatableindependently of said impeller under the frictional drag of the fluidflow set up therein by said impeller, and 'a support for said casing tomount it for free rotation including 'a bearing.

11. A fluid pump unit comprising a centrifugal impeller mounted forrotation about 'an axis, 'a rotary nozzle casing enclosing said impellerformed with an inlet upon one side thereof and with an outlet openingspaced from said inlet opening, means mounting said nozzle casing forrotation independent of the rotation'of said impeller under thefrictional drag of fluid circulated therein by said impeller, and meansupon the exterior of said nozzle housing to limit its speed of rotationin a surrounding body of fluid.

12. A liquid impeller unit comprising a rotary closed housing formed onone side with adownwardly facing central inlet and at a radially spacedpoint with an outwardly and upwardly facing outlet opening directly tothe ambient, means mounting saidihousing for free and independentrotation about a vertical axis in a body of water the level of which isabove said inlet and below said outlet, a rotary impeller in saidhousing, means mounting said impeller for independent rotation aboutsaid axis, characterized in that said impeller is of a capacity whenrunning at normal speed to fill said housing with liquid the circulationof which effects rotation of said housing and the pressure on whichexpels said liquid with force upwardly and outwardly from said outlet.

13. The construction set forth in claim 12 characterized in that amotor-driven shaft in said axis extends through said housing andconnects to said impeller and in that said unit including said shaftforms a replaceable removable unit.

14. The construction set forth in claim 12 characterized in that amotor-driven shaft in said axis extends into said housing through saidinlet and is connected to said impeller.

15. In an apparatus for washing dishes and the like, an open-toppedcasing, a removable cover seated on said casing, a rotary water impellerunit mounted on the bottom of said casing and including a, rotaryimpeller and a freely rotatable enclosing nozzle, said nozzle being inthe form of a closed chamber having a downwardly facing inlet and anupwardly and outwardly facing outlet, a rotatable supporting shaft fixedto the bottom of said nozzle and a driving shaft extended through itstop for free rotation relative thereto, means including a bearingaligning said shafts, said nozzle being adapted to rotate with itssupporting shaft under the frictional force received from the waterdriven by said impeller.

10 16. The construction recited in claim 15 characterized in that finsare positioned on the exterior of the casing of said nozzle to provideresistance to limit the speed of nozzle rotation.

LESTER E. VAN HISE.

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